A U.S. district judge in Raleigh has sentenced eight real estate professionals from the Triangle and New Jersey involved in an elaborate mortgage fraud scheme between 2003 and 2008 to prison and also ordered repayment of more than $10 million to the banks and investors damaged in the deals.

The defendants, according to court documents, conspired to sell properties to straw buyers who didn't have the means to pay for them.

Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced Jones, Congleton, Rose, Maldini, Peele, Hall and Herndon to one-count each of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. Hollis was charged with conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud.